Wind & Warm Temperatures & Comfortable Fishing South Fl.
Capt. Alan Sherman
February 8, 2012
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
Before I start my latest fishing update I would like everyone to go to Get Em Sportfishing Charters on Facebook and like my page. Thanks!
Now to the fishing!
Talk to anybody that has lived in South Florida about our weather this year and they are sure to scratch their heads and say "what weather"! Talk about a weird weather year! Well as goes the weather so does our fishing. Since December we have had but two cold fronts of any significance. Both got air temperatures to the low 50's and in some areas 40's but it didn't last for long. Water temperatures did drop in South Florida and in areas like the everglades it dropped quickly but in Miami not enough to make a difference. We had a good push of mackerel and bluefish that stayed in the bay right up till a month ago. After that they headed south to Florida Bay where they are today. Had we had a few more good fronts come through we would have had a secondary group of fish move south but these fish decided to stay put and have been holding many miles north of us. So instead of cold weather we have had windy weather and lots of it. There are still plenty of fish to fish for but it comes down to where you want to fish and what fish do you want to target.
Here's what's been happening in the areas that I normally fish this time of year.
North Biscayne Bay continues to provide action from small snook in the daytime, sea trout to three pounds, a few bluefish, mackerel and small jacks, lots of small barracudas a few snappers and quite a few under sized and protected groupers.
South Biscayne Bay never really got going and this due to a lack of cold weather early in the year. That was unfortunate because I really enjoy the variety that the Finger Channels can bring during the months of November, December, January, February and March. However the Patch Reefs off of Key Biscayne are holding plenty of fish if the wind will let me get to them.
Offshore fishing has been only so so again due to the wind and lack of cold weather.
Fishing in Flamingo has been good for a wide variety of fish but I haven't had a lot of guys wanting to make the two hour drive by car to the boat ramp. Either my clients are getting old and can't drag themselves out of bed at the crack of dawn or they don't want to spend the extra gas money that it takes to get to the park. Regardless of the reasons they are missing pout on some beautiful sites this time of the year. On my last trip to Flamingo we were rewarded to the sightings of 5 crocodiles and over a dozen wild Flamingos.
Freshwater fishing has only been fair due to high water in the Glades. These conditions should start to improve as water levels slowly drop.
The Miami Beach International Boat Show opens the weekend of February 18th. Unfortunately I will be out of town that weekend attended a good friend's wedding up in Jacksonville but don't let that stop you from visiting the show. Check out the Yamaha Booth, Maverick Booth, Minn Kota Booth, and Continental Trailer Booth while you're there.
RECENT CATCHES:
Today I have Dana, Joel and Steve on the boat and the wind has laid down enough so we can fish the Patches. After six hours and two spots the anglers caught over 30 gag grouper's, 12 red groupers, three black groupers, a mutton snapper, 10 mangrove snappers, 12 yellowtail snappers, three porgies and a load of bar jacks, bluerunners and jack crevalles. All caught on live and dead pilchards and shrimp and on a 3/8 ounce chartreus Hookup pompano jig. The reels used were Daiwa Advantage reels, Key Largo rods, Suffix line and Mustad Ultra point hooks.
Next up is Flynn Jr., Flynn Sr. and Frank. We met at the Florida Bay boat ramp and head to the fishing grounds. The water is on the cold side with air temperatures on the ride in that got as low as 48 degrees. The wind is up as well and we give it our best. By the end of the day the guys had caught redfish to 20 inches, snook to 21 inches, sea trout, jacks and a few sheepshead. The guys did get to see some American crocodiles.
Next up is Steve Ziegler and his son Zach and good friend Paul. Today we are in North Biscayne Bay for a half day charter. After catching plenty of bait in the bay we work real hard to feed just a few dozen to fish that really didn't seem interested in eating. Along with the live baits we threw Hookup lures and Rapala plugs with little luck. End result was a few real small trout, small jacks and one missed shot at a healthy snook.
Back in Flamingo today with long time regular Pat today. We have a short day and the plan is to fish some old familiar spots that Pat once fished with his late girlfriend. The fishing was red hot for two hours of a tide and during that time span we released six snook, seven redfish, black drum, sheepshead and sea trout. During the day we saw lots of American crocodiles and over a dozen wild Flamingos. All of the fish were caught on Hookup lures tipped with live shrimp or shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float.
Today I am with Mel and Mickey. The weather has lain down a bit and we are able to get out to the Patch Reefs again. Fishing with live shrimp and frozen pilchards we end up with two black grouper to seven pounds, four red groupers and one grouper that I have never seen before of which it and all of the pother groupers were released plus 20 snappers, four porgies and lots of bluerunners and bar jacks.
Back in North Biscayne Bay with Troy, David and Michael for a short half day of fishing. Today the bait and fish cooperate and the guys catch twenty sea trout to three pounds, plenty of jacks, barracudas and missed two snook.
Today I have Dr. K onboard and after catching all the bait we need we head offshore. The report was flat calm seas but once out the inlet it was obvious that there was a large swell from recent high winds. No problem so we continue out to the spot. Once at the spot we deployed the Minn Kota I-Pilot and hit the anchor feature and once it locked into the position we were anchored in 40 feet of water without having to drop and anchor, chain and anchor line. There Spanish mackerel and large kingfish in the area and the fish ate our baits plus our hooks. After an hour of fishing the winds came up again and it was time to head for calmer conditions. While in the ocean the Dr. landed two nice mackerel that ate Rapala X Raps and lost a large kingfish when it got tangled in another boater's line. In the bay we added a half dozen more mackerel to the catch along with jack, bluerunners and bluefish.
Back in North Biscayne Bay with Ron for a six hour charter. We were hoping to get offshore but the winds once again are up. After six hours of casting live pilchards Ron released three snook, lots of jacks, bluefish, barracudas, bluerunners and a few gag groupers.
On the water today with Allen and Tino in South Biscayne Bay. After fishing the channels and shorelines the guys released one mackerel, lots of small snappers, a nice snook and gag and black groupers before heading to the No Name Harbor for a wonderful lunch.
Last trip of the week is with David C and David G. We are in South Bay for a four hour charter. After catching some live baits we fished shorelines and channels and ended up releasing one snook, six jacks, barracudas and a number of gag and black groupers.
Well that's it for now. Can't wait to get back out on the water and catch a fish of a lifetime for my next charter.
Check out my report in the Miami Herald's Sports section under Fishing Updates each Thursday, the Florida Sportsman Magazines South Florida Internet Fishing Report
(www.floridaspotsman.com), my monthly Action Spotter Fishing Report for the South Region in the Florida Sportsman Magazine each month.
Sponsors:
Yamaha, Bob Hewes Boats, Maverick, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Daiwa, General Motors & Chevrolet, Rapala, Suffix, Trigger X, Mustad, Pure Fishing, Gulp, Berkley, Precision Tackle, Cajun Thunders, Capt. Hank Brown's Hookup Lures, Hydro Glow Lights, Saltwater Assassins, Key Largo Rods, Lee Fisher Cast Nets, Smartshield, Master Repair in Stuart Florida, Power Pole, Stow Master Nets, superfishlight.com, Columbia Wear, Tempress Seating, Aluminum Fabricating Inc.
Capt. Alan Sherman
"Get Em" Sportfishing Charters
786-436-2064
www.getemsportfishing.com
Field Editor of the Florida Sportsman Magazines Action Spotter Report South Region
Field Editor of the Florida Sportsman Magazines Internet Fishing Forecast South Region
Editor of the Miami Heralds South Florida Fishing
Miami Fishing Forecast:
Miami & Flamingo Fishing Forecast:
I expect the fishing to be pretty consistent for the next three or four months with lots of SEA TROUT, JACK CREVALLES, LADYFISH, BARRACUDAS, SNOOK, TARPON in NORTH BISCAYNE BAY and OFFSHORE of MIAMI KINGFISH SAILFISH and DOLPHINS available on the calmer days and in FLAMINGO in EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK will have a huge amount of wildlife like the WHITE PELICANS, ROSEATTE SPOONBILLS, SKIMMER BIRDS,GULLS, OSPREYS, EAGLES, TERNS, EGRETS, HERONS, ALLIGATORS, CROCODILES, BOTTLE NOSED DOLPHINS, MANATTEES, SHARKS and TURTLES and of course the wide variety of fish that migrate into FLORIDA BAY and the GULF waters during the cooler months of the year. SNOOK, TARPON, REDFISH, SEA TROUT, SHEEPSHEAD, TRIIPLETAIL, BLACK DRUM, SNAPPER, GOLIATH AND GAG GROUPER, POMOPANO, COBIA, MACKEREL, PERMITS, BLUEFISH and I'm sure I am leaving a few other fish species out will be available to all anglers at one time or another throughout the rest of the Fall and Winter months.
Target Species:
SNOOK, TARPON, MACKEREL, TROUT, REDFISH, DOLPHINS, SAILFISH, SHARKS
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